Bought the 140 800 after seeing some reviews and this video. Never demoed it just took a punt, have since ridden other bikes at similar price range that my mates have got. All i can say is that the punt paid off, its such a fun involving bike. Buzzing!!!
forgot to mention I love the sound of the 140 but I cant understand whya 29er wont work on these? Im 6ft 2 and 90kgs and having trouble deciding between the 120 29er and the rest of merida range
I have this bike I have been telling everyone e how nice it is I sound like you lol you have described this bike to a t I recently brought a yt capra full carbon and I still keep getting the merida out thank you lol
just test rode a one forty 700 (2020) that I can get 2nd hand for what I could sell my just purchased 2023 trek roscoe 7 29er for lol.. i realized i want a duelie now a few weeks after buying the roscoe.. the merida felt SO nice.. playful yet so smooth on bumps without ANY seat bob on heavy pedaling!
Really nice review - apparently not too many people buy/review the Merida bikes, but almost everything I found was positive. It convinced me to buy either a 2019 or 2020 one-forty 700, and I'm wondering if the 4 piston SLX brakes and other minor improvements (XT shift lever instead of SLX, different rear shock) are worth about 300€ more that the 2020 model would cost me (1500€) over the 2019 (1200€).
Looks Awesome, after testing the One Twenty in Glentress a few years back. I really wanted to see the float link appear on the bigger travel bikes. Merida have delivered a great package, Tyre choice and suspension system that looks spot on for UK Trails.
Yep, I had a 120 as a long termer a while ago but the Suntour shock always held it back in terms of full potential. It's certainly been interesting riding both 160 and 140 bikes side by side for a few months. I really like the fact that Merida have deliberately separated out the 140 with a more agile ride but it's still a proper pinner.
I'd really love to hear what you have to say on the One-Twenty. Thinking about buying one of those currently after it won ENDURO MTBs group test of short travel trail bikes against Canyon, Trek, Specialized, Yeti, etc.
Meteor Media short version: really smooth suspension, pretty balanced all round geometry. Stiff enough to track OK and lighter than most for the price. Bounces a fair bit under power and needs some volume spacers to hold it up in hard turns. I’ve just done a full review here though: www.bikeperfect.com/reviews/merida-one-twenty-97000-review
Pricey 78 thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it. I’ve not done many and I’ve not pushed them much so far as they’re secondary to my mag work. I’m going to be stepping things up from here on in though so all shares and subscriptions are much appreciated. More videos I can make the better eh 👍🏻
Hi Guy. Just wondering about your thoughts on how the Merida One Forty 700 compares with the Giant Trance 2? Handling, value for money and the extra weight of it? Thanks!
Sorry Hsien-Wen I've not ridden the latest Trance so it would be unfair of me to comment in detail. Previous Trance's I've ridden have been very good bikes though with a similar suspension action to the Merida. The geometry of the new Trance looks good too. As soon as I get to ride one I'll try and remember to come back to you on it. Sorry I can't be any more helpful.
Thanks Hayden, M500 are excellent brakes. Not the most powerful (changing the pads to sintered helps a lot) but modulation is excellent and they have none of the random lever pull issues of Shimano XTR, XT and SLX.
Great review Guy, I currently have a 2017 whyte t130rs but was thinking of moving to the merida one forty 800 for something a little rowdier. How do you think they compare? The Whyte is one of the best bikes I have ever owned but it could do with a little more travel at my local bikepark.
Ey up Dave, TBH I don't think you'll notice a massive difference between the Whyte and the Merida if you're wanting something with significantly more safety margin for bike park slamming. I'd shift your sights up to the Merida One-Sixty (my current magazine long termer) or the Whyte G-170. Both have more travel heavier duty forks and a longer, slacker geometry which will help get you out of serious high speed trouble that bit easier. Hope that helps. Guy
Hi Guy, For budget mountain bike, Which one you would take out of garage and ride again every time....Merida One Forty 700 or Polygon Siskui N8? Cheers!
@@VBIceman For mostly trail I'd go with the Merida but for park lapping I'd go N8. To mix things up the Merida OneSixty is a good mix of both worlds, bit livelier than the N8 for trail but can still handle the big stuff.
Interesting insight! I thought same, I ride on trail/all mountain more then park laps so Merida 140 is perfect weapon to do that and can handle park laps when I happen to go after all ;)
@@VBIceman Yep, having ridden all 3 the 140 is the most versatile as it's much easier to hustle on the flat but it isn't afraid of the big stuff either.
I have a choice at my local bike shop between the Trek Fuel Ex, Scott Genius 750 and the Merida One Forty. What are you opinions on these bikes? I will be riding rough rooty singletrack, steep descents, jumps, drops and flow trails. The Trek only has 130mm front and back and i'm not sure if it is enough for what I am currently riding. A few of my friend swear by the Trek or the Scott so which bike should i have? Thanks
That's a hard one as both the other bikes are great too. Certainly don't worry about having less travel on the Trek as it's a very stiff and controlled bike even when ridden really hard. The Merida is defnitely smoother and feels richer in terms of traction via both the tyres and the suspension but doesn't feel as tight and quick when pedaling. Scott Genius has great geometry and the suspension works really well as long as you don't mind flicking the remote control around to get the best from it. 2.8in tyres can be a bit drifty for mixed conditions too and can be vulnerable on really rocky trails. Make sure you get the 2019 750 to get the single ring transmission too, 2018 still has double ring.
Hi Guy, my local trail centre is Stainburn, I go quite often however I own a specialised pitch hardtail with 100m of basic travel. I’m looking to upgrade to a full suss. What would you chose between the Merida one forty 700 or the specialised enduro aluminium 29er. Thanks
Fantastic review as always Guy. You're not mentioning low BB or relatively cramped cockpit as some other testers are. Haven't you found those to be an issue? If true, they would detract from it's all day capabilities more than the excessive heft, wich I guess could be lowered to some extent splashing cash on the higher version of the bike. I'd love to hear your take on that. And now that I got your attention, I suggest you make a video around your life as a tester. That insight would be super interesting!
Hi Ramon, thanks and glad you enjoyed it. TBH I think people are starting to get hung up on the super long reach thing, especially on mid travel bikes. The large has a 455mm reach which is the same as the Bronson and a bunch of other bikes. It’s a deliberate move by Merida to make it more agile. The 335mm B.B. means you can really rip it through corners and compared to bikes like the Whyte and Evil it’s not crazy low. You certainly don’t need to think about the cranks when climbing even somewhere techy and rocky like Stainburn. The 160 bike is significantly longer and taller if that’s what you want. I’ve got both here at the moment and they’re surprisingly different and I think that’s a good thing. The day in the life would be an interesting one for sure 😜
I have no experience on any of these new super long bikes myself. I just mentioned it cause I know from your reviews that you don't fall into that cliche, but wanted to hear your take in this case. You're super experienced and I don't usually find you lacking front end length for a good fun... When I mentioned the upper version I was thinking about the one forty 800. I'd like to get me a full sus and this could already be too much of a bike for me. I'm 6'3" but I have no need of a barge since I ride some slow and twisty single-track and need the bike to be an efficient pedaler. Watching your vids and reading your articles gives me a deeper insight on what makes a bike great. I bet a day in your life would put many of us to shame 😝
As a tester you're always trying to work out why a bike is good or bad at particular things and try and find some 'magic' numbers to base that on. There's no doubt that long bikes are great for high speed stability and if you get the rest of the handling balance right that doesn't have to be at the expense of reasonable agility. In some ways the Merida proves you don't have to go to extremes to get a brilliant ride - in fact it's because you've not gone there that it's brilliant. But then again a couple of years ago a 140mm bike this long with a 66 degree head angle and 2.6in tyres would have been totally nuts. You can't underestimate the contribution of frame behaviour to overall bike feel but I don't believe there are hard and fast rules there either. The Orange Five, Cotic FlareMax etc are brilliant despite being obviously flexy and the Trek Slash and others are brilliant because they're super stiff. It's sometimes hard to defend that kind of variation but it all comes down to the overall complete ride in the end. BTW the 800 is 400g lighter. What trails do you normally ride?
I ride the hills around Barcelona mostly (wich are probably unfamiliar to you) with +1000 meters of accumulated ascent in 30/40km typical outings, and the occasional all day ride. There's plenty of single-track, rather twisty, but I always get to the trails riding smoother paths first. Besides, you mustn't get too crazy with speeds since it's easy to find hikers. Coming from a XC canyon 29er, I'm searching for confidence and control on the downhill rocky bits and hone my skills. Last year I tested a Fuel EX, Lapierre Zesty, Spark 29er and a BH Lynx Race and, to my surprise, it was the French bike that I enjoyed the most. The BH was a rocket but I might prefer more squish up front...
No I've ridden a lot in the Sierra Nevada and a little near Madrid and Ainsa but not Barcelona. It sounds like great riding and that a mid travel bike that climbs well like the Merida will be ideal for you. Lapierre seem to have been forgotten by people since they were winning every award a few years ago but the last Zesty I rode was great. Have you looked at the Orbea range? I really liked the Occam I rode. Also the Commencal Meta TR. Santa Cruz Bronson pedals really well and feels like it has less travel than it does but in a good way if that makes sense. Whyte T-130 would suit as well and maybe even a Scott Genius. Like I say in the review though don't get hung up on the weight of the Merida, it climbs really well on rough terrain.
Awesome vid always solid content. I say for your next bike check out the all new Spectral from Canyon. I'd love to see how their new take on a trail bike plays out especially since the last Spectral was so well loved.
I came here for a guy kestev review on the Onesixty 5000. Have you ridden one guy,I have just purchased myself one and have yet to give it a proper test.
I'm thinking about a 2018 Merida 140, Scott Genius 750 or Giant Trance 3. Difficult to choose with pros and cons of each in a similar price range. The Scott is a 2x and has maybe lower end suspension than the others.
Hey Groosome, sorry for the late reply. Yep the Suntour definitely puts the Scott on the back foot in this price band. You'd be looking at the Trance 2 which gets a comparable spec just with a Fox fork not Rock Shox. I've not ridden the current Trance but it's always been a great all rounder. The rims and tyres are narrower though which will give it a faster but less floated feel. Having ridden the Merida 160 and the Giant Reign I'd expect the frame to be noticeably stiffer and the suspension to be slightly more oriented towards pedalling on the Trance too.
Thanks for the input - the Scott 750 actually has a Rockshox Recon and the Trance 3 has the Suntour Aion but the Aion as far as I've read is well regarded with 35mm stanchions. I don't think I'd spend up for the Trance 2 (I briefly test rode one a while ago) so it may end up depending on sale prices between Merida's 140 and Giant's Trance.
Sorry Groosome, not sure where I got the Suntour spec from. Recon is actually a pretty decent fork, X-Fusion shocks tend to be more wooden in feel than RS and FOX though. Aion is OK as long as you keep it clean. I've had them degrade pretty quickly if the weather turns and you don't keep up with maintenance.
I still haven't made my move but I stood over a Merida 140 600 yesterday and forgot it has a good selection of gear on it. I don't know much about the fork though. Do you have any thoughts about the Manitou Comp vs the Revelation on the 700 in the video or the Aion on the Giant Trance 3? It's easy to find reviews on expensive forks but not on entry level trail forks. I guess it doesn't help that there's about a million forks out there :)
Groosome128 yeah standalone reviews of basic forks are very rare but I’ve ridden pretty much all of them on bikes. Manitou comp is pretty smooth and reliable but the rebound adjustment is pretty basic and they’re pretty flexy. Suntour Aion vary. Some are great to start with then go sour pretty quick if they get dirty. Others can soldier on fine for ages. They’re structurally very stiff too but they’re also heavy. The Revelations had some early batch issues but they seem to be getting more sorted now. There’s more people happy to service them too.
Hi Guy Great review ☺ I am looking for my first full suspension mtb. And I am a bit confused... should I buy the one-twenty 600, the one-forty 600 or 700. I ride for fun, most xc terrain... I know that it's not a easy question to answer. But witch would you pick?
If you ride mostly XC terrain then I'd go for the 120 600 in the 29er version as it's lighter and will cover ground quicker. That Manitou Minute fork is a really decent unit too. For more rowdy riding the 140 has more suspension, more relaxed geometry and fatter more forgiving tyres, the 700 has really good kit for the price too.
It's normally for stand over clearance so you don't crush your nuts if you have to stop and straddle it suddenly on a steep climb. I agree though, straight tubes look great and theoretically make more structural sense.
Hi Guy, just wondering, I have noticed that the bike in your review hasn't got the tubes welded together that meet the for if you know what i mean but some do like the picture shown on the website, is that because you are reviewing a Large frame? Thanks
Thanks We Ride, I got lucky as I was working at a bike parts supplier sending test kit to the magazines and also writing the company catalogue so when a new magazine was launched I knew the team were looking for writers. I was also training as a physiotherapist at the time in night school so the first pieces I wrote were for the fitness pages. Then the editor needed someone to write a bike test of really cheap mountain bikes on a really rugged trail up to Fort William in Scotland. They liked what I wrote so I never got the chance to finish my physio qualifications! I'd say just ride as many bikes as you can and see how different they feel and see if you can describe that and why you think that they feel that way. If you're writing already or in the bike industry that's a big help to getting a job. Don't ever expect to make a lot of money doing it and expect to work some silly hours and horrible weather (I'm currently prepping a gravel bike for a snow adventure setting off at 6am tomorrow and it's 12:39am now) but if it means you're riding bikes as your job, you can never complain that it's hard ;-) Good luck anyway and thanks for watching.
hiya just wounded if you could point me in the right direction iv been looking at the 140 600. but I'm thinking of hitting some bike parks how is the 140 600 with jumps and things like that? or could you point me in a direction of something different. price range up to about 2k ish. thanks
The 140 would cope fine but if you look around online at the moment there are a few places selling the 2018 One-Sixty 600 for £2k which would be the obvious bike to go for. Spec is basically everything you need and don't be put off by that Suntour Durolux fork as it's actually a proper big hitter.
Guy, helpful review. I appreciated the comparison to the fuel ex in the comments as well. You mentioned that you were riding the Merida in a large, how tall are you? Thanks
Hi Rob, I'm 5' 11" or 180cm. I'm often right on the med/lge borderline on sizing charts but the current trend for longer reach and shorter stem means I mostly ride large sized frames these days.
Sounds like a plan. If you're demoing then set the shock up around 30% sag. The bottom out with the floating link is really smooth and that'll give you a really active ride. I'm 70kg and I settled on 17psi front and 20psi rear for the tyres but you might want to go up on that if you're heavier or it's rockier terrain. Enjoy anyway.
Guy Kesteven that’s very helpful. I’m 88kg, where can I find a pressure chart that will have the % sag? I’m riding a Specialized Fuse in XL. I’m looking at a dually to handle rocky and varied terrain in south coast NSW Australia. The One Forty has all that I’m looking for including slack head tube and steeper seat tube. That said I’m still under budget at the moment. What other bikes would you recommend I look at new or second hand? Thanks
The sag marker is clear on the shock shaft so just use the travel ring to set it. It doesn't need a ton of pressure so you'll be fine at 88kg even with a full ride pack. Have to say the One Forty does sound perfect for where/what you ride but I wouldn't drop down to the 600 as the fork is a lot skinnier and it sounds like you'll be working it hard. I know Wiggle/Chain Reaction have a strong presence in Australia so take a look at the Nukeproof and latest Vitus options (they just got longer and slacker) for value. Giant Trance and Trek Fuel EX (which you already mentioned) punch above their travel too. Do you get Marin and Whyte in NSW? Obviously second hand opens up a ton of other options as well.
Hi Guy! This bike looks sweet! However, I am wondering what's your opinion on the Trek Remedy 8 2018, similar price range and travel (allthough 150/160 travel)... I've ordered this bike and looking forward to buying it, but haven't seen you test any of Treks Fuel or Remedy, so I was just curious about your opinion regarding Treks Trail bike, if you have tried any of them and what you think? Cheers from Sweden, love your reviews!
Hi Tobias, I've got a double header coming up with both Trek Fuel EX and Remedy shortly. I've ridden the 2017 and 2018 EX a lot and it's certainly a similar bike, Suspension is very similar in action but the Re:Aktiv shock is a lot more taught than the Merida shock. The Trek frame is stiffer too which some riders like but others might find punishing, it certainly makes fork set up more crucial to keep the front end connected. It also has limited steering lock with the Knock Block. Soon as I get the Remedy into the workshop I'll try and remember to let you know but keep messaging me.
Guy Kesteven Thanks Guy! No one makes them reviews like you! Very informative, clear, and fun to watch you riding them! Will set a notice for when your next video comes up. Cheerio!
Guy Kesteven - I have this bike and a 120 for my wife. She much prefers my 140 even though it is a size L and she is a S. We are considering upgrading to the new Stumpjumper, any thoughts on whether this is a good choice of upgrade?
Sorry for the late reply, I saw your question then got sidetracked and couldn't find it again. First things first what does your wife prefer about the 140 over the 120? Just the geometry of the large or the suspension feel too?
Draegloth Gaming if she likes the feel of that bike but with shorter travel then there ‘might’ be something that suits her perfectly coming from Merida very soon 🤫
I have the 800 version of this bike and love it. Mine has the top tube welded to the down tube along the horizontal section near the head tube. They are all welded in the pics on the website too but the one on your bike is open. Do you have any info on that?
Actually I think I know.. Mine is medium so large must have a longer head tube. I would have thought that would significantly change the rigidity of that part of the frame?
I saw your first question and was just about to reply when I saw your reply. Yes it's the difference between your medium frame and the large frame I tested. The longer headtube makes the front end stiffer (like holding a broom handle with your hands a bit further apart) which compensates for the lack of connection between the top and down tubes.
😂 yesterdy i bought it one, simllr than your 700. I found it a new one in my country. 2500€. I'm waiting as funny as you in your rewied. Old machine...😊by old ideas... spend time in the mountains...for restrictions 😷...my skills on the bike.
Hi, I am considering buying Merida One-Twenty 9.600 ( www.merida-bikes.com/en/bike/18/ONE-TWENTY+600 ) and willing to hear your opinion about sizing. I am 179cm tall with 83cm steam and based on Merida’s calculator I should by size L/29″. Unfortunately, I am not able to check a bike before purchasing as they are not available in local stores. Based on my analysis L should be fine (Reach: 655, Effective Top Tube: 614) when comparing others bikes and recommendations. But before placing an order want to ask about your opinion about sizing.
Guy Kesteven went there on one of my first outing on a mountain that place kicked my ass glad you reviewed the merida quality bikes that don't get enough exposure
Yeah, it's not the smoothest or most flowing place without a bit of local knowledge and plenty of practice laps. That makes it brilliant for testing bikes though.
The bike suppliers just cover the cost of my time for making the videos or else I'm out of pocket doing them and at the end of the day I'm a professional tester so I need to make a living from doing. I flag them up as paid comment, #sponsored whatever to be transparent and not try to hide anything, which certainly isn't true of all the other vloggers/sites. The videos generally come on the back of a positive review for a magazine or website and then there are some that I pre ride the bike beforehand to check it's good enough. I test loads of bikes each year and I'd only consider a fraction of them good enough to get excited on video about. The bottom line is that brands have no input on what I say or how I say it, and it's a totally honest reveiw of the bikes in question. The reviews on here have no influence on those other reviews either as you can easily see by looking at reviews for brands I've done videos for but have had less positive reviews in other places since. I've been doing this 21 years now and I'm not going to throw away that reputation and jeopardise future work by compromising my honesty. Besides I don't need to, the ones on this channel are brilliant bikes that I love riding. Hope that answers your question.
Bought the 140 800 after seeing some reviews and this video. Never demoed it just took a punt, have since ridden other bikes at similar price range that my mates have got. All i can say is that the punt paid off, its such a fun involving bike. Buzzing!!!
would have to be one of the best and brightest reviews out there!
forgot to mention I love the sound of the 140 but I cant understand whya 29er wont work on these? Im 6ft 2 and 90kgs and having trouble deciding between the 120 29er and the rest of merida range
Just bought mine. Can't wait for it to come. Thanks for the vid
Sure you'll love it fella. Great bikes
Really awesome bike I've got one the same , just does everything and more. Guy your videos are always so good
Thanks Giblet, stoked you're enjoying the bike
I have this bike I have been telling everyone e how nice it is I sound like you lol you have described this bike to a t I recently brought a yt capra full carbon and I still keep getting the merida out thank you lol
just test rode a one forty 700 (2020) that I can get 2nd hand for what I could sell my just purchased 2023 trek roscoe 7 29er for lol.. i realized i want a duelie now a few weeks after buying the roscoe.. the merida felt SO nice.. playful yet so smooth on bumps without ANY seat bob on heavy pedaling!
Really nice review - apparently not too many people buy/review the Merida bikes, but almost everything I found was positive. It convinced me to buy either a 2019 or 2020 one-forty 700, and I'm wondering if the 4 piston SLX brakes and other minor improvements (XT shift lever instead of SLX, different rear shock) are worth about 300€ more that the 2020 model would cost me (1500€) over the 2019 (1200€).
Super surprised by the new Merida bikes. They truly nailed the rear kinematics.
Looks Awesome, after testing the One Twenty in Glentress a few years back. I really wanted to see the float link appear on the bigger travel bikes. Merida have delivered a great package, Tyre choice and suspension system that looks spot on for UK Trails.
Yep, I had a 120 as a long termer a while ago but the Suntour shock always held it back in terms of full potential. It's certainly been interesting riding both 160 and 140 bikes side by side for a few months. I really like the fact that Merida have deliberately separated out the 140 with a more agile ride but it's still a proper pinner.
I'd really love to hear what you have to say on the One-Twenty. Thinking about buying one of those currently after it won ENDURO MTBs group test of short travel trail bikes against Canyon, Trek, Specialized, Yeti, etc.
Meteor Media short version: really smooth suspension, pretty balanced all round geometry. Stiff enough to track OK and lighter than most for the price. Bounces a fair bit under power and needs some volume spacers to hold it up in hard turns. I’ve just done a full review here though: www.bikeperfect.com/reviews/merida-one-twenty-97000-review
@@GuyKesTV Thanks a lot!
Bought the 2020 140 700 and it’s a great bike, best bang fir the buck! However, are slx hubs supposed to be quiet? Cheers!!
Yep its their new design of freehub which as i understand disengages above a certain speed, hence the "silent hub"
great review! thanks for helping me choose bike. There're a lot of good bikes there!
There are, but glad my review helped you find the right one.
How have you only got 2k subscribers? Your videos are awesome, deserve way more
Pricey 78 thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it. I’ve not done many and I’ve not pushed them much so far as they’re secondary to my mag work. I’m going to be stepping things up from here on in though so all shares and subscriptions are much appreciated. More videos I can make the better eh 👍🏻
Hi Guy. Just wondering about your thoughts on how the Merida One Forty 700 compares with the Giant Trance 2? Handling, value for money and the extra weight of it? Thanks!
Sorry Hsien-Wen I've not ridden the latest Trance so it would be unfair of me to comment in detail. Previous Trance's I've ridden have been very good bikes though with a similar suspension action to the Merida. The geometry of the new Trance looks good too. As soon as I get to ride one I'll try and remember to come back to you on it. Sorry I can't be any more helpful.
No worries Guy. Thanks for the reply. Great review of the One Forty 700. I'm pretty sold on it as it appears to be great value for money.
What a good review,
But what about the m500? Are the brakes good enough? Can you modulate the braking power?
Thanks Hayden, M500 are excellent brakes. Not the most powerful (changing the pads to sintered helps a lot) but modulation is excellent and they have none of the random lever pull issues of Shimano XTR, XT and SLX.
Great review Guy, I currently have a 2017 whyte t130rs but was thinking of moving to the merida one forty 800 for something a little rowdier. How do you think they compare? The Whyte is one of the best bikes I have ever owned but it could do with a little more travel at my local bikepark.
Ey up Dave, TBH I don't think you'll notice a massive difference between the Whyte and the Merida if you're wanting something with significantly more safety margin for bike park slamming. I'd shift your sights up to the Merida One-Sixty (my current magazine long termer) or the Whyte G-170. Both have more travel heavier duty forks and a longer, slacker geometry which will help get you out of serious high speed trouble that bit easier. Hope that helps. Guy
Excellent review like how you attack those corners
Thanks John, to be honest though, it's the bike that deserves credit for enjoying corners so much. It's got grip for days.
Hi Guy,
For budget mountain bike,
Which one you would take out of garage and ride again every time....Merida One Forty 700 or Polygon Siskui N8?
Cheers!
Hi Victor, what sort of riding are you wanting to do on it?
Hi Guy,
I am from Australia, I usually ride trail/all mountain. Sometimes I go to MTB park and hit park laps with shuttle.
@@VBIceman For mostly trail I'd go with the Merida but for park lapping I'd go N8. To mix things up the Merida OneSixty is a good mix of both worlds, bit livelier than the N8 for trail but can still handle the big stuff.
Interesting insight! I thought same, I ride on trail/all mountain more then park laps so Merida 140 is perfect weapon to do that and can handle park laps when I happen to go after all ;)
@@VBIceman Yep, having ridden all 3 the 140 is the most versatile as it's much easier to hustle on the flat but it isn't afraid of the big stuff either.
I have a choice at my local bike shop between the Trek Fuel Ex, Scott Genius 750 and the Merida One Forty. What are you opinions on these bikes? I will be riding rough rooty singletrack, steep descents, jumps, drops and flow trails. The Trek only has 130mm front and back and i'm not sure if it is enough for what I am currently riding. A few of my friend swear by the Trek or the Scott so which bike should i have? Thanks
That's a hard one as both the other bikes are great too. Certainly don't worry about having less travel on the Trek as it's a very stiff and controlled bike even when ridden really hard. The Merida is defnitely smoother and feels richer in terms of traction via both the tyres and the suspension but doesn't feel as tight and quick when pedaling. Scott Genius has great geometry and the suspension works really well as long as you don't mind flicking the remote control around to get the best from it. 2.8in tyres can be a bit drifty for mixed conditions too and can be vulnerable on really rocky trails. Make sure you get the 2019 750 to get the single ring transmission too, 2018 still has double ring.
Hi Guy, my local trail centre is Stainburn, I go quite often however I own a specialised pitch hardtail with 100m of basic travel. I’m looking to upgrade to a full suss. What would you chose between the Merida one forty 700 or the specialised enduro aluminium 29er. Thanks
hazbroTV sorry for the late reply. What other riding do you do besides Stainburn?
@@GuyKesTV hamsterley, gisburn, ilkley moor and more
Fantastic review as always Guy. You're not mentioning low BB or relatively cramped cockpit as some other testers are. Haven't you found those to be an issue? If true, they would detract from it's all day capabilities more than the excessive heft, wich I guess could be lowered to some extent splashing cash on the higher version of the bike. I'd love to hear your take on that.
And now that I got your attention, I suggest you make a video around your life as a tester. That insight would be super interesting!
Hi Ramon, thanks and glad you enjoyed it. TBH I think people are starting to get hung up on the super long reach thing, especially on mid travel bikes. The large has a 455mm reach which is the same as the Bronson and a bunch of other bikes. It’s a deliberate move by Merida to make it more agile. The 335mm B.B. means you can really rip it through corners and compared to bikes like the Whyte and Evil it’s not crazy low. You certainly don’t need to think about the cranks when climbing even somewhere techy and rocky like Stainburn. The 160 bike is significantly longer and taller if that’s what you want. I’ve got both here at the moment and they’re surprisingly different and I think that’s a good thing.
The day in the life would be an interesting one for sure 😜
I have no experience on any of these new super long bikes myself. I just mentioned it cause I know from your reviews that you don't fall into that cliche, but wanted to hear your take in this case. You're super experienced and I don't usually find you lacking front end length for a good fun...
When I mentioned the upper version I was thinking about the one forty 800. I'd like to get me a full sus and this could already be too much of a bike for me. I'm 6'3" but I have no need of a barge since I ride some slow and twisty single-track and need the bike to be an efficient pedaler. Watching your vids and reading your articles gives me a deeper insight on what makes a bike great.
I bet a day in your life would put many of us to shame 😝
As a tester you're always trying to work out why a bike is good or bad at particular things and try and find some 'magic' numbers to base that on. There's no doubt that long bikes are great for high speed stability and if you get the rest of the handling balance right that doesn't have to be at the expense of reasonable agility. In some ways the Merida proves you don't have to go to extremes to get a brilliant ride - in fact it's because you've not gone there that it's brilliant. But then again a couple of years ago a 140mm bike this long with a 66 degree head angle and 2.6in tyres would have been totally nuts. You can't underestimate the contribution of frame behaviour to overall bike feel but I don't believe there are hard and fast rules there either. The Orange Five, Cotic FlareMax etc are brilliant despite being obviously flexy and the Trek Slash and others are brilliant because they're super stiff. It's sometimes hard to defend that kind of variation but it all comes down to the overall complete ride in the end.
BTW the 800 is 400g lighter. What trails do you normally ride?
I ride the hills around Barcelona mostly (wich are probably unfamiliar to you) with +1000 meters of accumulated ascent in 30/40km typical outings, and the occasional all day ride. There's plenty of single-track, rather twisty, but I always get to the trails riding smoother paths first. Besides, you mustn't get too crazy with speeds since it's easy to find hikers. Coming from a XC canyon 29er, I'm searching for confidence and control on the downhill rocky bits and hone my skills. Last year I tested a Fuel EX, Lapierre Zesty, Spark 29er and a BH Lynx Race and, to my surprise, it was the French bike that I enjoyed the most. The BH was a rocket but I might prefer more squish up front...
No I've ridden a lot in the Sierra Nevada and a little near Madrid and Ainsa but not Barcelona. It sounds like great riding and that a mid travel bike that climbs well like the Merida will be ideal for you. Lapierre seem to have been forgotten by people since they were winning every award a few years ago but the last Zesty I rode was great. Have you looked at the Orbea range? I really liked the Occam I rode. Also the Commencal Meta TR. Santa Cruz Bronson pedals really well and feels like it has less travel than it does but in a good way if that makes sense. Whyte T-130 would suit as well and maybe even a Scott Genius. Like I say in the review though don't get hung up on the weight of the Merida, it climbs really well on rough terrain.
0:09 dig, dig, dig, wag, wag, wag :)
Awesome vid always solid content. I say for your next bike check out the all new Spectral from Canyon. I'd love to see how their new take on a trail bike plays out especially since the last Spectral was so well loved.
Yep it's on the list Carter, just waiting for them to have a test bike spare.
I came here for a guy kestev review on the Onesixty 5000. Have you ridden one guy,I have just purchased myself one and have yet to give it a proper test.
I'm thinking about a 2018 Merida 140, Scott Genius 750 or Giant Trance 3. Difficult to choose with pros and cons of each in a similar price range. The Scott is a 2x and has maybe lower end suspension than the others.
Hey Groosome, sorry for the late reply. Yep the Suntour definitely puts the Scott on the back foot in this price band. You'd be looking at the Trance 2 which gets a comparable spec just with a Fox fork not Rock Shox. I've not ridden the current Trance but it's always been a great all rounder. The rims and tyres are narrower though which will give it a faster but less floated feel. Having ridden the Merida 160 and the Giant Reign I'd expect the frame to be noticeably stiffer and the suspension to be slightly more oriented towards pedalling on the Trance too.
Thanks for the input - the Scott 750 actually has a Rockshox Recon and the Trance 3 has the Suntour Aion but the Aion as far as I've read is well regarded with 35mm stanchions. I don't think I'd spend up for the Trance 2 (I briefly test rode one a while ago) so it may end up depending on sale prices between Merida's 140 and Giant's Trance.
Sorry Groosome, not sure where I got the Suntour spec from. Recon is actually a pretty decent fork, X-Fusion shocks tend to be more wooden in feel than RS and FOX though. Aion is OK as long as you keep it clean. I've had them degrade pretty quickly if the weather turns and you don't keep up with maintenance.
I still haven't made my move but I stood over a Merida 140 600 yesterday and forgot it has a good selection of gear on it. I don't know much about the fork though. Do you have any thoughts about the Manitou Comp vs the Revelation on the 700 in the video or the Aion on the Giant Trance 3? It's easy to find reviews on expensive forks but not on entry level trail forks. I guess it doesn't help that there's about a million forks out there :)
Groosome128 yeah standalone reviews of basic forks are very rare but I’ve ridden pretty much all of them on bikes. Manitou comp is pretty smooth and reliable but the rebound adjustment is pretty basic and they’re pretty flexy. Suntour Aion vary. Some are great to start with then go sour pretty quick if they get dirty. Others can soldier on fine for ages. They’re structurally very stiff too but they’re also heavy. The Revelations had some early batch issues but they seem to be getting more sorted now. There’s more people happy to service them too.
Hi Guy
Great review ☺
I am looking for my first full suspension mtb.
And I am a bit confused... should I buy the one-twenty 600, the one-forty 600 or 700.
I ride for fun, most xc terrain...
I know that it's not a easy question to answer. But witch would you pick?
If you ride mostly XC terrain then I'd go for the 120 600 in the 29er version as it's lighter and will cover ground quicker. That Manitou Minute fork is a really decent unit too. For more rowdy riding the 140 has more suspension, more relaxed geometry and fatter more forgiving tyres, the 700 has really good kit for the price too.
Guy, why do so many of these new bikes have 'bent' or 'curved' top tubes? Surely a straight top tube would make for a stiffer, stronger bike.
It's normally for stand over clearance so you don't crush your nuts if you have to stop and straddle it suddenly on a steep climb. I agree though, straight tubes look great and theoretically make more structural sense.
Hi Guy, just wondering, I have noticed that the bike in your review hasn't got the tubes welded together that meet the for if you know what i mean but some do like the picture shown on the website, is that because you are reviewing a Large frame? Thanks
morishas yes that’s right chap. The head tube is longer on the large so there’s a gap.
Thanks for your reply. Great review. Have ordered myself a One forty 600:)
is it really comfort providing like expensive gt bikes
Great Bike and nice dog :)
Yeah Tilly is a legend eh!
@@GuyKesTV Please tell me how many mm dropper is inside the frame?
Hi guy love the videos keep it up I would love to test ride bikes just like you do for a living how would I go about doing it
Thanks We Ride, I got lucky as I was working at a bike parts supplier sending test kit to the magazines and also writing the company catalogue so when a new magazine was launched I knew the team were looking for writers. I was also training as a physiotherapist at the time in night school so the first pieces I wrote were for the fitness pages. Then the editor needed someone to write a bike test of really cheap mountain bikes on a really rugged trail up to Fort William in Scotland. They liked what I wrote so I never got the chance to finish my physio qualifications!
I'd say just ride as many bikes as you can and see how different they feel and see if you can describe that and why you think that they feel that way. If you're writing already or in the bike industry that's a big help to getting a job. Don't ever expect to make a lot of money doing it and expect to work some silly hours and horrible weather (I'm currently prepping a gravel bike for a snow adventure setting off at 6am tomorrow and it's 12:39am now) but if it means you're riding bikes as your job, you can never complain that it's hard ;-)
Good luck anyway and thanks for watching.
Brilliant review
hiya just wounded if you could point me in the right direction iv been looking at the 140 600. but I'm thinking of hitting some bike parks how is the 140 600 with jumps and things like that? or could you point me in a direction of something different. price range up to about 2k ish. thanks
The 140 would cope fine but if you look around online at the moment there are a few places selling the 2018 One-Sixty 600 for £2k which would be the obvious bike to go for. Spec is basically everything you need and don't be put off by that Suntour Durolux fork as it's actually a proper big hitter.
Guy, helpful review. I appreciated the comparison to the fuel ex in the comments as well.
You mentioned that you were riding the Merida in a large, how tall are you? Thanks
Hi Rob, I'm 5' 11" or 180cm. I'm often right on the med/lge borderline on sizing charts but the current trend for longer reach and shorter stem means I mostly ride large sized frames these days.
Guy Kesteven thanks. I’m 186 going to have to try a L and XL and see which feels better.
Sounds like a plan. If you're demoing then set the shock up around 30% sag. The bottom out with the floating link is really smooth and that'll give you a really active ride. I'm 70kg and I settled on 17psi front and 20psi rear for the tyres but you might want to go up on that if you're heavier or it's rockier terrain. Enjoy anyway.
Guy Kesteven that’s very helpful. I’m 88kg, where can I find a pressure chart that will have the % sag? I’m riding a Specialized Fuse in XL. I’m looking at a dually to handle rocky and varied terrain in south coast NSW Australia. The One Forty has all that I’m looking for including slack head tube and steeper seat tube. That said I’m still under budget at the moment. What other bikes would you recommend I look at new or second hand? Thanks
The sag marker is clear on the shock shaft so just use the travel ring to set it. It doesn't need a ton of pressure so you'll be fine at 88kg even with a full ride pack. Have to say the One Forty does sound perfect for where/what you ride but I wouldn't drop down to the 600 as the fork is a lot skinnier and it sounds like you'll be working it hard. I know Wiggle/Chain Reaction have a strong presence in Australia so take a look at the Nukeproof and latest Vitus options (they just got longer and slacker) for value. Giant Trance and Trek Fuel EX (which you already mentioned) punch above their travel too. Do you get Marin and Whyte in NSW? Obviously second hand opens up a ton of other options as well.
Hi Guy! This bike looks sweet! However, I am wondering what's your opinion on the Trek Remedy 8 2018, similar price range and travel (allthough 150/160 travel)... I've ordered this bike and looking forward to buying it, but haven't seen you test any of Treks Fuel or Remedy, so I was just curious about your opinion regarding Treks Trail bike, if you have tried any of them and what you think? Cheers from Sweden, love your reviews!
Hi Tobias, I've got a double header coming up with both Trek Fuel EX and Remedy shortly. I've ridden the 2017 and 2018 EX a lot and it's certainly a similar bike, Suspension is very similar in action but the Re:Aktiv shock is a lot more taught than the Merida shock. The Trek frame is stiffer too which some riders like but others might find punishing, it certainly makes fork set up more crucial to keep the front end connected. It also has limited steering lock with the Knock Block. Soon as I get the Remedy into the workshop I'll try and remember to let you know but keep messaging me.
Guy Kesteven Thanks Guy! No one makes them reviews like you! Very informative, clear, and fun to watch you riding them! Will set a notice for when your next video comes up. Cheerio!
Thanks Tobias, glad you enjoyed them. Spread the word!
Guy Kesteven - I have this bike and a 120 for my wife. She much prefers my 140 even though it is a size L and she is a S. We are considering upgrading to the new Stumpjumper, any thoughts on whether this is a good choice of upgrade?
Sorry for the late reply, I saw your question then got sidetracked and couldn't find it again. First things first what does your wife prefer about the 140 over the 120? Just the geometry of the large or the suspension feel too?
Guy Kesteven both, she just feels it is more stable and better on the bike which I think is weird especially seeing as she should be on a small
Draegloth Gaming if she likes the feel of that bike but with shorter travel then there ‘might’ be something that suits her perfectly coming from Merida very soon 🤫
Oh brilliant thanks for the info and your advice I'll have a look around see what I can find 👍
I found it here: www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-One-Sixty-600-Mountain-Bike-2018-Enduro-Full-Suspension-MTB_110653.htm
I have the 800 version of this bike and love it. Mine has the top tube welded to the down tube along the horizontal section near the head tube. They are all welded in the pics on the website too but the one on your bike is open. Do you have any info on that?
Actually I think I know.. Mine is medium so large must have a longer head tube. I would have thought that would significantly change the rigidity of that part of the frame?
I saw your first question and was just about to reply when I saw your reply. Yes it's the difference between your medium frame and the large frame I tested. The longer headtube makes the front end stiffer (like holding a broom handle with your hands a bit further apart) which compensates for the lack of connection between the top and down tubes.
😂 yesterdy i bought it one, simllr than your 700. I found it a new one in my country. 2500€. I'm waiting as funny as you in your rewied. Old machine...😊by old ideas... spend time in the mountains...for restrictions 😷...my skills on the bike.
Compared to an Orange Five ?
Watch the Orange Five video ;-) You'll not get an Orange for that money though.
Hi, I am considering buying Merida One-Twenty 9.600 ( www.merida-bikes.com/en/bike/18/ONE-TWENTY+600 ) and willing to hear your opinion about sizing. I am 179cm tall with 83cm steam and based on Merida’s calculator I should by size L/29″. Unfortunately, I am not able to check a bike before purchasing as they are not available in local stores. Based on my analysis L should be fine (Reach: 655, Effective Top Tube: 614) when comparing others bikes and recommendations.
But before placing an order want to ask about your opinion about sizing.
That's not Stainburn is it?
Yep. Just rolling into the red line from the top car park.
Guy Kesteven went there on one of my first outing on a mountain that place kicked my ass glad you reviewed the merida quality bikes that don't get enough exposure
Yeah, it's not the smoothest or most flowing place without a bit of local knowledge and plenty of practice laps. That makes it brilliant for testing bikes though.
кому интересно что там пёсик искал?? такой настойчивый
I have this bike
Hope what I said sounded about right?
Paid comment by Merida i think.
The bike suppliers just cover the cost of my time for making the videos or else I'm out of pocket doing them and at the end of the day I'm a professional tester so I need to make a living from doing. I flag them up as paid comment, #sponsored whatever to be transparent and not try to hide anything, which certainly isn't true of all the other vloggers/sites.
The videos generally come on the back of a positive review for a magazine or website and then there are some that I pre ride the bike beforehand to check it's good enough. I test loads of bikes each year and I'd only consider a fraction of them good enough to get excited on video about. The bottom line is that brands have no input on what I say or how I say it, and it's a totally honest reveiw of the bikes in question. The reviews on here have no influence on those other reviews either as you can easily see by looking at reviews for brands I've done videos for but have had less positive reviews in other places since.
I've been doing this 21 years now and I'm not going to throw away that reputation and jeopardise future work by compromising my honesty. Besides I don't need to, the ones on this channel are brilliant bikes that I love riding. Hope that answers your question.